Fall Ozark Rendezvous

So someone in the group messaged me to see about Fall Rendezvous, so I figured I would start the chatter. I believe it was agreed by the group that Fall Rendezvous will always be on the Current River with camping at Pulltite Campground. This year we will go back to our normal dates, so for 2018 that is 10/17 to 10/21 - as we all know some folks come early and some late, I hope most can make it the bulk of the normal dates so that we all can see each other, some people seem to come early and then once everyone else arrives they leave, I don't know maybe we smell. Anyway hope everyone is having a great summer and are staying cool. August is almost here so the count down to Fall Rendezvous will be on! Would love it if some new folks would join our group, we have a good time together so come on and paddle with us and enjoy "high tea" (not really tea- LOL)! See ya'll soon! PamThePaddler

Comments

Thanks for putting this up, Pam. I was beginning to worry that there might be a loss of interest. Brad mentioned that worry down on the Northfork this spring also. It would be a shame. Its getting to be a long tradition now, a beautiful river, and this is a community that appreciates it. That is a thing well worth supporting and enjoying.
I'll be there.

Heheh, not to put too fine a point on it, huh, Pete (LOL)? Can't wait to see you and Mary! As a matter of fact, can't wait to see Pam & Rob, Pat, heck.....ALL of you! Now that I've had a "Tune up" and had some new hardware added to the old ticker, I should be good to go. MUCH better than the run down model of me that arrived at the last few Rendezvous'!

I was just talking to someone from the BWCAW website who's moving down here to the western side of the Ozarks about the Rendezvous as well as a few others from BWCA.com that I've met this summer. So Vic, and Dick, you may have some company representing the "Iowa contingent!"

We will probably be there Tuesday? That's what I'm shooting for. Here's a link to Pulltite Campground and if anyone's interested in "Cushier" digs, there are cabins and lodge rooms at nearby Echo Bluff State Park. Also I'll post a link to pictures from past Rendezvous, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!

We’ll be thinking about this. It’s been 2.5 years
It would be so fun to catch up with you all
The best paddling group we’ve ever been with
PS we have trailer with shower for all in case Pulltite closes the showers.
All we ask for is a donation of Ozark honey

@kayamedic said:
We’ll be thinking about this. It’s been 2.5 years
It would be so fun to catch up with you all
The best paddling group we’ve ever been with
PS we have trailer with shower for all in case Pulltite closes the showers.
All we ask for is a donation of Ozark honey

@kayamedic said:
We’ll be thinking about this. It’s been 2.5 years
It would be so fun to catch up with you all
The best paddling group we’ve ever been with
PS we have trailer with shower for all in case Pulltite closes the showers.
All we ask for is a donation of Ozark honey

You come, I'll spring for a big jar of honey!

No matter the honey unless you are a candidate for Missouri Hicks BBQ.
That’s only the shower fee
We’ve missed you and Margaret and Pam and Rob and PJC and the list goes on forgive me for forgetting the BOB and his wife J and Mary and Pete.
Etc.
we could even stop and dig Yanoer out of his corn patch

I apologize for whomever I missed
We promise no hummus. ( you of a certain age will remember this attempt)
We do serious smoking in ME
Pork is our specialty . If only lobster smoked better we’d bring that
Well we might anyway

I would be great if you and Jim could make it, Kim. Although Pulltite does not guarantee the showers will be open in the off-season (Oct 15 and after) we have been there past that date and they have always been open with hot (well, warm) water. One time I was there in late December and the showers were still open.

@kayamedic said:
Pam or anyone in the know.. Pulltite does not accept reservations past Oct 14. I believe this just means that its first come first served and the showers may spew hot cold or not at all.

Kim, yes it will be first come first serve. I have been down there in December and the main shower house has still been open, hasn't been closed yet during Rendezvous but heck we are talking about the federal government so anything is possible.

We're a planning to come.. We'll bring our new to us Yellowstone tandem.
We will be suitably prepared for High Tee..
PS we will have shower in our trailer for anyone needing one! Yes we are old and degenerate. The last time I camped at Pulltite the rains came and my sleeping mattress was floating in water!

We plan on being there the entire week. And if kayakmedic thinks he has cushy digs, wait until you see the new motorhome we have. Suitable for 3+ month trips that these two snowbirds intend on taking. I actually had to check that we would fit into the campground. We got a reservation beginning the weekend before the official rendezvous since they are still taking reservations then. We actually start this trip in late September and end just before Thanksgiving.

I am not a he! but those darn phones... We spend three months a year travelling a year.. Our neighbors at home always ask where is the next trip.!
a 20 foot trailer isn't cushy but comfy.. it gets us where we want to go and allows us to store it and take off on canoe trips then come back to it.. Canoe Pam, can you get boats on your motorhome or do you tow a car?

We can share telling each other where to go! Ooh..fit.. That is an issue sometimes which is why we went tiny but above rolling bed!

Oops, sorry kayakmedic. My memory is definitely walking south. My kids give me grief about “camping” in the metal monster, but I let them know I am not camping, I am RVing. I still camp occasionally. For example we are heading to Fall Lake in mid September in a motorcycle camper with a decent bed but no inside kitchen, no shower, etc. That’s a lot of fun for a while, but it gets old as I get old! We are gone between 6 and 8 months a year doing assorted trips, some longer than others. We tow a Jeep Grand Cherokee so the boat goes on top of it and the bikes hang on the back. Tows 4 down so easy to connect and disconnect.

We are also considering getting a new river boat in a lighter material than Royalex. We have a Novacraft Prospector now, a lovely boat but heavy. My bad back and Kevin’s bad knees are catching up to us. We will pick people’s brains at the Rendezvous.

@jonafire said:
I'd like to join y'all. I'd be coming from NC. I assume this is mostly flat-water level 1-2.

Its moving.. Class 2 is a stretch.. Unless its flooded you just need to float and avoid the occasional gravel bar. its a laid back event rather than technical paddling.. We hope to see you there after all the excitement from the hurricane parade.

@jonafire said:
I'd like to join y'all. I'd be coming from NC. I assume this is mostly flat-water level 1-2.

There is nothing close to what I would call Class II at the normal levels one can expect in mid-October. There are some shallow Class I riffles where the ability to maneuver around rocks is desirable.

Far and away the greatest potential hazard are strainers, typically the rootwads of uprooted trees. These are usually easily spotted well in advance, but depending on water levels, there might be little available leeway to maneuver around them at times. In such cases, carrying around them is usually very easy.

As long as you have some basic water reading ability and boat control there should be no problem. Where in North Carolina?

Coming from Greensboro. We expect some wind and rain from Florence but we are far enough inland to avoid the worst winds and rain. I noticed all the sites at Pulltite are already reserved. Since 1 RV and 1 tent are allowed Is there any chance I could pitch my tent in one of the group's sites.

@jonafire said:
Coming from Greensboro. We expect some wind and rain from Florence but we are far enough inland to avoid the worst winds and rain. I noticed all the sites at Pulltite are already reserved. Since 1 RV and 1 tent are allowed Is there any chance I could pitch my tent in one of the group's sites.

There are no reservations during the Rendezvous dates at Pulltite. The X you see means that the reservation season has ended . The campground is first come first served.. Others correct me if I am wrong but I have never seen the campground full during Rendezvous

Heheh, not to put too fine a point on it, huh, Pete (LOL)? Can't wait to see you and Mary! As a matter of fact, can't wait to see Pam & Rob, Pat, heck.....ALL of you! Now that I've had a "Tune up" and had some new hardware added to the old ticker, I should be good to go. MUCH better than the run down model of me that arrived at the last few Rendezvous'!

I was just talking to someone from the BWCAW website who's moving down here to the western side of the Ozarks about the Rendezvous as well as a few others from BWCA.com that I've met this summer. So Vic, and Dick, you may have some company representing the "Iowa contingent!"

We will probably be there Tuesday? That's what I'm shooting for. Here's a link to Pulltite Campground and if anyone's interested in "Cushier" digs, there are cabins and lodge rooms at nearby Echo Bluff State Park. Also I'll post a link to pictures from past Rendezvous, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!

So Jo Anne and I just did a couple days paddling the Current and camping at Pulltite. We did Akers to Pulltite and Pulltite to Round Spring. On Friday we didn't see anyone else on the river, Saturday there were some larger groups out there but not the weekend warrior types. I think we were the only two women in the campground! Did some fishing and took our time on the river. River was low but we never had to walk anything. Fall was in the air and some of the trees are already starting to change. Looking forward to seeing everyone in a few weeks and looking forward to meeting some new folks!

Well, we plan on a Tuesday afternoon arrival, camp set up. Paddle Wed, Thur, home Friday as I will have to work one last weekend at my soon to be former employer. My friend Mary Blanc has encouraged me greatly in this endeavor. In the long run, I'll see my friends and family much more and not spend weekends away from home. If anyone is staying over into the next week, paddling then would be a possibility to be discussed.

It will be SO good to see you! I don't think we can stay cause all those New England Colors will be piling up in the yard while we are away.. If we were to ignore them too long they freeze into a unhappy mess.

@kayamedic said:
It will be SO good to see you! I don't think we can stay cause all those New England Colors will be piling up in the yard while we are away.. If we were to ignore them too long they freeze into a unhappy mess.

If you are familiar with the Nantahala, Little T., and section IX of the French Broad, the Ozark streams in the ONSR will certainly pose no challenge for you. There certainly won't be any Class II at current river levels. There will be a few Class I riffles where you may need to find a clean line through rocks.

I would be happy to shuttle with you Dick, providing you can endure the possible need to have a damp dog sitting in your lap. Mary will not be able to make it as she needs to go to Chicago tomorrow, so I have an empty seat in my truck and plenty of rack space. I expect I will arrive Tuesday afternoon.

@tazzmo said:
Tom and I are not going to make it this fall. He fell while taking a picture of a chicken in Chicken, Alaska, and his back is not up to manipulating boats and campers. Hope to see you all next spring.

@tazzmo said:
Tom and I are not going to make it this fall. He fell while taking a picture of a chicken in Chicken, Alaska, and his back is not up to manipulating boats and campers. Hope to see you all next spring.

@tazzmo said:
Tom and I are not going to make it this fall. He fell while taking a picture of a chicken in Chicken, Alaska, and his back is not up to manipulating boats and campers. Hope to see you all next spring.